East of Fort is the hectic, crowded labyrinth of Colombo’s central bazaar. Derived from the Tamil word for village, the Pettah is where to head to experience shopping in true, traditional Sri Lankan style—and a world away from air-conditioned malls. The thronging, hot and dusty streets are a frenzy of retail activity and where you can really feel the pulse of the city away from the main tourist haunts.
